Dispensing device



March 8, 1966 w. R. SCHOLLE 3,239,104

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 35WILLIAM R. SCHOLLE BY 270 m wm a March 8, 1966 w. R. SCHOLLE 3,239,104

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2, 1964 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 gag/l4INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. SCHOLLE A'rrvs.

arch 8, 1966 w R 5c HOLLE DISPENSING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.WILLIAM R. SCHOLLE m Ar-rvs,

United States Patent 3,239,104 DISPENSING DEVICE William R. Scholle,Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Scholle Container Corporation, Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,141 4Claims. (Cl. 222-81) This invention relates to improvements and meansfor dispensing the contents of plastic lined paperboard containers in aquick, convenient, economical and sanitary manner.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to package liquids, such as milk,water, fruit juices and the like, in plastic liner bags such as thosecomposed of polyethylene and polypropylene, and dispose these withinconfining paperboard containers, such as of corrugated board, for thepurpose of ready shipment, storage and use.

In the case of liquids which are required to be refrigerated after thecontainer has once been opened, the packages of the present inventionare adapted to be conveniently placed in a household refrigerator, andthe contents incrementally dispensed, as required, by convenient probeand spigot means.

'It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedassembly comprising a holder tray for packages of the class describedand to which there may be quickly and conveniently accommodated andengaged suitable probe and spigot means, whereby the contents may bereadily and securely dispensed or withdrawn as required in whole or inpart.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention, its details ofconstruction and arrangement of par-ts and economies thereof, will beapparent from a consideration of the following specification andaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the characterizing tray of the presentinvention illustrating a probe-spigot unit adapted to be engagedthereto.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tray of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a section onthe line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the tray of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the container adaptedto be disposed within the tray of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the probe-spigot unit adapted to beengaged to the tray of FIG. 2, and as shown in perspective in said FIG.2.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the unit of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the probespigot combinationof FIG. 7 with the probe and spigot separated.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through a tray of the presentinvention with a package comprising a paperboard container havingdisposed therein a liquid containing flexible plastic liner bag, and towhich the probe-spigot of FIG. 7 is engaged, showing the spigot inclosed position.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10 with the spigot in opendispensing position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 14 indicates generallyan upwardly open tray of rectangular form, suitably composed of plasticor metal, comprising side walls 11, one of said side walls havingintegral sleeve 12, and a bottom 13 which inclines downwardly towardsthe side wall 11 which has the sleeve 12.

The sleeve 12 as shown is formed with a bayonet slot 14 for reception ofthe pin 15 on the collar portion 16 of the probe generally indicated as17. The probe 17 is adapted to be extended through the sleeve 12 towithin the confines of the tray 10 and by rotating movement toreleasably engage the probe 17 to the sleeve 12. Although not shown, itwill be understood that in lieu of the bayonet slot-pin arrangement, thecollar 16 and sleeve 12 may be provided with complementary threads, orin the alternative the two parts may be adapted to be frictionallywedged one within the other, the materials of both the sleeve 12 and theprobe 17 or at least the collar portion 16 thereof being composed ofsomewhat compressible plastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene andthe like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tray 10 is adapted to snugly receive and seatwithin its side Walls a paperboard container generally indicated as 18,said paperboard container having disposed therein a plastic liner bag 19suit ably containing a liquid material 20 of the character previouslydescribed and which is to be dispensed. The liner bag 19 is suitablysecured adjacent the carton side wall 21 as at 22 by means of anadhesive so that it will be retained adjacent the wall 21 in asubstantially firm manner for probing purposes as hereinafter explained.With the same end in view, as shown in FIG. 11, a corner 23 of the linerbag 19 may be disposed and gripped between the bottom closure flaps 24and 25 of the container.

As indicated in FIG. 6, the front wall 21 of the container is desirablyformed with a knock-out aperture forming disc 26 defined by the scorelines 27, this aperture being disposed in the front wall 21 so that itwill be aligned with the aperture in the tray 10 leading to the sleeve12. The knock-out portion 26 is adapted to remain in the carton duringhandling and shipping but prior to use, and prior to disposing it in thetray 10, it is removed.

Thus, two sanitary purposes are served by the knockout portion 26 as itcompletely covers the liner bag 19 prior to use and in use it is removedso that when the probe 17 is inserted fibers of the paperboard cartonwill not be injected into the liquid contents 20 of the liner bag 19.

The probe component generally indicated as 17 comprises a tubularcylindrical shank portion 28 having a solid pointed end portion 29 andan open pouring end portion 3% defined by a concentric collar portion31. Between this collar portion 31 and the solid pointed end portion 29,one or more apertures 48 are provided in the shank 28 to providecommunication from the exterior of the shank 23 through the open endportion 30. The collar 31 is provide with screw threads 32 adjacent itsopen end 30 adapted for cooperative engagement with the externallythreaded skirt 33 of the cup-shaped member embracing the tube 34 of thespigot component generally indicated as 35.

This spigot 35 which comprises the tube 34- has an'open end 36 and aclosed end 37 at which there is suitably provided a hand-hold 38 foractuation of the spigot.

The skirt 33 is integral with the head portion 40 of the concentric cap,said cap being annular and terminating in the sleeve component 39 whichsnugly embraces the tube 34. Suitably disposed between one end of thesleeve 39 and the flange projection at the closed end 37 is a gasket 41.Although not shown, the gasket 41 can be dispensed with by slightlyenlarging the diameter of the tube 34 adjacent the closed end portion 37so that the sleeve 39 may be brought in wedged engagement.

As indicated, the tube 34 is provided with an aperture 42 which isadapted to be alternately covered and uncovered by the sleeve 39 asshown in the alternative positions of FIGS. 10 and 11. The aperture 42is normally maintained in covered position by means of the coil spring43 which embraces tube 34 and is anchored at one end thereof as by meansof a component 44 extending through apertures 45 in the tube, theopposed end of the spring resting against the internal face of cap 40.Thus, the spring normally maintains the aperture 42 covered by thesleeve 39 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and by grasping the hand-hold 38the aperture 42 is caused to be uncovered or withdrawn from coverage ofthe sleeve 39 to permit dispensing as shown in FIG. 11.

The skirt 33 is provided with an internal thread 46 for engagement withthe external thread 32 on the collar portion 30 so that the spigot andprobe may be securely joined together as a unit.

For dispensing purposes this spigot-probe unit is projected through thesleeve 12 and through the aperture formed by knock-out portion 26 of thepaperboard container and through the liner bag 19. The liner bag 19 aspreviously indicated is of flexible, plastic material and tends to bestretched as it is punctured and to form a secure seal as at 47 bysnugly embracing and shrinking around shank 28.

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changesmay be made in the details thereof without departing from its scope ascomprehended by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A piercing and dispensing probe comprising a tubular cylindricalshank portion, a solid pointed end portion, an open concentric collarextending from said open shank portion, at least one aperture formed insaid shank portion disposed between said collar and pointed endportions, and a dispensing spigot comprising a tube open at one end andclosed at the other, a peripheral aperture formed in said tubecommunicating with said open end, closure means therefor comprising asleeve embracing said tube and supporting the latter for reciprocationtherein and adapted to alternately cover and expose said aperture, aconcentric cap carried by said sleeve with its head portion integraltherewith and with its skirt portion spaced therefrom and openingtowards said open tube end, and means on said skirt portion inengagement with complementary means on said probe collar portion.

2. A piercing and dispensing probe comprising a tubular cylindricalshank portion, a solid pointed end portion, an open concentric collarextending from said open shank portion, at least one aperture formed insaid shank portion disposed between said collar and pointed end portionsand a dispensing spigot comprising a tube open at one end and closed atthe other, a peripheral aperture formed in said tube communicating withsaid open end, closure means therefor comprising a sleeve embracing saidtube and supporting the latter for reciprocation therein and adapted toalternately cover and expose said aperture, a concentric cap carried bysaid sleeve with its head portion integral therewith and With its skirtportion spaced therefrom and opening towards said open tube end, meanson said skirt portion in engagement with complementary means on saidprobe collar portion, said probe being adapted to be projected into asleeve extending from a side wall of a container supporting tray, andmeans formed on the outer periphery of said probe collar portion forengagement with complementary means formed on said sleeve.

3. In a dispensing device, a rectangular upwardly open tray comprisingside walls, a bottom Wall seating and embracing a paperboard containerand said container having disposed therein a liquid containing flexibleliner bag, a sleeve extending from one of the tray side walls receivingtherethrough a probe for said lined container, connecting means on saidsleeve engaging with complementary means on said probe, said probecomprising a tubular cylindrical shank portion, a solid pointed endportion, an open concentric collar extending from said open shankportion, at least one aperture formed in said shank portion disposedbetween said collar and pointed end portions, and a dispensing spigotcomprising a tube open at one end and closed at the other, a peripheralaperture formed in said tube communicating with said open end, closuremeans for said tube comprising a sleeve embracing said tube andsupporting the latter for reciprocation therein and adapted toalternately cover and expose said aperture, a concentric cap carried bysaid latter sleeve with its head portion integral therewith and with itsskirt portion spaced therefrom and opening towards said open tube end,and means on said skirt portion in engagement with complementary meanson said probe collar portion.

4. Liquid dispensing means comprising an upwardly open rectangular trayincluding an inclined bottom, side walls and end walls extending abovesaid bottom and of equal height, a paperboard container seated in saidtray and snugly embraced by the walls thereof, a fixed sleeve extendingoutwardly from one of said end walls and opening adjacent the lowermostportion of said inclined bottom and adapted to receive therethrough aprobe for said lined container, and connecting means on said sleeve forengaging with complementary means on said probe, a wall of saidcontainer being formed with an aperture forming disc defined by scorelines, said container being disposed in said tray with said disc inalignment with the aperture of said sleeve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,907 9/1906Lund 285-402 1,761,089 6/1930 Schatz 251321 1,795,430 3/1931 Howie etal. 222-91 2,060,386 11/ 1936 Stargardt 222-89 2,744,656 5/1956 Hope222-88 X 2,925,199 2/ 1960 Brookshier 22291 3,035,737 5/1962 Speas 222823,078,026 2/1963 Meinecke et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 675,333 12/1963 Canada.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

1. A PIERCING AND DISPENSING PROBE COMPRISING A TUBULAR CYLINDRICALSHANK PORTION, A SOLID POINTED END PORTION, AN OPEN CONCENTRIC COLLAREXTENDING FROM SAID OPEN SHANK PORTION, AT LEAST ONE APERTURE FORMED INSAID SHANK PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID COLLAR AND POINTED ENDPORTIONS, AND A DISPENSING SPIGOT COMPRISING A TUBE OPEN AT ONE END ANDCLOSED AT THE OTHER, A PERIPHERAL APERTURE FORMED IN SAID TUBECOMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPEN END, CLOSURE MEANS THEREFOR COMPRISING ASLEEVE EMBRACING SAID TUBE AND SUPPORTING THE LATTER FOR RECIPROCATIONTHEREIN AND ADAPTED TO ALTERNATELY COVER AND EXPOSE SAID APERTURE, ACONCENTRIC CAP CARRIED BY SAID SLEEVE WITH ITS HEAD PORTION INTEGRALTHEREWITH AND WITH ITS SKIRT PORTION SPACED THEREFROM AND OPENINGTOWARDS SAID OPEN TUBE END, AND MEANS ON SAID SKIRT PORTION INENGAGEMENT WITH COMPLEMENTARY MEANS ON SAID PROBE COLLAR PORTION.